About Us
After hosting and summiting Denali with team members from different states/countries it was clear to us that it can be a great challenge to organize the trip from far away. The difficulty increases if the team members do not have climbing history together. We immediately recognized the importance of having someone locally to guide the climbers.
Ben
Ben is an Outdoor Enthusiast who loves Snowboarding, Kayaking, Skiing, Fatbiking, Climbing and Hiking among other sports. He has summited Mt. Baker and Rainier in the Pacific northwest among other fourteeners in Colorado. He has completed several triathlons at the Olympic distance and biked 280 miles in a week from Durango, Colorado to Moab, Utah. For work he is an Adapted PE Specialist teaching in Anchorage, Alaska with summers off (lucky!). His Master’s degree from the University of Virginia is in Kinesiology and he has had fifteen years experience developing training programs as a certified personal trainer and teacher of elite athletes and those with special needs. He can create a physical training program designed to achieve your goals. Ben likes to cook almost as much as he likes to eat.
Masha (full Mariia)
Masha also loves the outdoors. She has lived and played in Alaska for 13 years. Masha had few attempts to conquer Denali, and the last trip was a success. In June of 2023 she summited in just 11 days. The season was also historically difficult, with only about a 31% success rate. Masha has personal experience of what it takes on each section of the mountain, whether it be Base Camp, Motorcycle hill, Squirrel hill, the Ridge, the Autobahn, or that final push to the summit. Masha can help guide you in gear recommendations and route planning based on your individual team members. Masha is also in charge of the money, as she is a CPA.
The House Space
Our house is about 1800 sq feet set in east Anchorage with quick access to the largest municipal park in the United States. We have a bunk bed (Twin XL over Queen) and a small couch that turns into a Queen size mattress (in a private room), all with comfortable linens and pillows for sleeping. We provide towels, washcloths, and use of the outdoor hot tub. Your team will have approximately 12×15 feet of garage space for gear selection and packing. The kitchen and living space upstairs has ample room and tables for your final food preparation and work space. Use of our freezer up to 2 cubic feet, and kitchen is included in your booking. We have all the usual appliances, including a food dehydrator. Our house is 10 minutes from a grocery store and Costco.